In our lives, we spend a lot of time believing in others. We believe in celebrities and politicians, family members and our children, friends and clergy, neighbors and strangers alike. Yet believing in ourselves is a more difficult task.
The Power of Self-Belief
We have all heard the story of the Little Engine That Could. He steamed ahead, saying, “I think I can, I think I can,” until his “I think I can” turned into an “I know I can.” It’s simple, really. Believing in yourself empowers you to accomplish whatever it is you want. It is the first step in making dreams come true. Believing in yourself enables you to not just create your own destiny, but to take control of your life. So why do so many people struggle to believe in themselves?
Every great invention starts with a dream. The difference between your dream and its realization is that the first dreamer believed in themselves. They took proactive steps to move forward, took risks, and applied a determined approach to making their dream come true. They believed in themselves and pushed aside the negative rhetoric in their minds that told them they couldn’t or hinted at failure. They turned every “no” into a “yes,” knowing deep down that they would be successful.
The easiest way out in life is to quit, to think you cannot do something. Whether you want to lose weight, start a business, or pursue a passion, the easiest thing to do is NOT TRY. The human brain can generate millions of excuses in an instant that keep us stuck where we are. It doesn’t take much effort to not believe in yourself. So why are so many people complacent with less than what they deserve? Why can we easily believe in others but struggle to recognize our own strength? Are we so afraid of failure that we simply stop trying?
On any given day, you could visit a playground in your hometown. Sit on a bench and watch a toddler, barely stable on their feet, try to climb to the top of the slide. Watch them navigate the monkey bars towering over their heads. Observe them daringly jump off a swing and land like a tumbleweed on the ground below. This shows that we are born to believe in ourselves and our abilities. We inherently know we are good enough and capable enough. It proves that fear is learned—and whatever is learned can also be unlearned.
The first step in believing in yourself is to “fake it.” If you’ve been afraid to take the first step or have developed a negative train of thought that disempowers you, you need to consciously turn it around. Affirmations, such as “I can do this,” “I am confident,” or “I am capable,” are great starting points. Use Post-it notes and plaster them all over your house, car, and office as reminders that everything you need to succeed is already within you. The more you “fake” it, the more these positive thoughts will replace the negative ones.
The second step is to write down your goals and dreams. Writing them down serves as a concrete way to express your desires. Instead of letting thoughts swirl in your head, use pen and paper to make them come to life. It’s much harder to ignore a handwritten list of goals. Next, use a ladder system to start making your dreams come true—one small step at a time. Change one thing in your life each week or take one small action each week that moves you closer to your goals. If you stick with the small steps, you will be surprised by how much you can accomplish in a month. Fast forward a year, and you might have an entirely different life.
Another important step in believing in yourself is to give yourself credit for your accomplishments. If you’re trying to lose weight or save money, acknowledge your progress rather than criticize yourself for not doing enough. This will help build your confidence, slowly but surely.
Another vital step is learning to accept yourself. Forgive yourself for mistakes or shortcomings and realize they don’t define you unless you allow them to. Think of any “failure” as an opportunity rather than a setback. Believe that right now, in this very moment, you are enough, you are worth loving, and you are inherently good. By learning to accept yourself and stop being so hard on yourself, you can more easily take steps to improve your life.
At the end of the day, when you start believing in yourself, you leave everyone around you with no choice but to believe in you as well.